in Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis (2016), 128(2016), 382-390

African populations use traditional medicines in their initial attempt to treat a range of diseases. Nevertheless, accurate knowledge of the composition of these drugs remains a challenge in terms of ... [more ▼]

African populations use traditional medicines in their initial attempt to treat a range of diseases. Nevertheless, accurate knowledge of the composition of these drugs remains a challenge in terms of ensuring the health of population and in order to advance towards improved traditional medicines (ITMs). In this paper chromatographic methods were developed for qualitative and quantitative analyses of a per os antimalarial ITM containing Garcinia kola. The identified analytical markers were used to establish TLC and HPLC fingerprints. G. kola seeds were analysed by HPLC to confirm the identity of the extract used by the Congolese manufacturer in the ITM. The main compounds (GB1, GB2, GB-1a and Kolaflavanone) were isolated by preparative TLC and identified by UPLC–MS and NMR. For the quantification of the major compound GB1, a simple and rapid experimental design was applied to develop an LC method, and then its validation was demonstrated using the total error strategy with the accuracy profile as a decision tool. The accurate results were observed within 0.14–0.45 mg/mL range of GB1 expressed as naringenin. The extracts used in several batches of the analysed oral solutions contained GB1 (expressed as naringenin) within 2.04–2.43%. Both the fingerprints and the validated LC-DAD were found suitable for the quality control of G. kolabased raw material and finished products, respectively. [less ▲]

The present study describes the investigation of active compounds from several samples of Fumaria officinalis L. (Fumariaceae). The identification of the isoquinoline alkaloids (allocryptopine ... [more ▼]

The present study describes the investigation of active compounds from several samples of Fumaria officinalis L. (Fumariaceae). The identification of the isoquinoline alkaloids (allocryptopine, chelidonine, protopine, bicuculline, sanguinarine, cheleritrine, stylopine and hydrastine) was performed by comparison with reference standards using an HPLC-DAD method, and their quantification by LC-DAD and spectrophotometric methods. The presence of polyphenolic compounds was simultaneously assessed by HPLC. Protopine and sanguinarine were identified in all extracts. The major alkaloids were protopine and chelidonine (258.3 mg/100 g and respectively 94.13 mg/100 g). The spectrophotometric determinations of alkaloids showed minor differences between commercial samples and those harvested from spontaneous flora. The concentration of isoquinoline alkaloids expressed in chelidonine was between 0.69 and 0.76% in all samples. The pattern of phenol carboxylic acids showed the presence of cynarin, chlorogenic, isochlorogenic and ferulic acids. The flavonoids isovitexin, rutin, isoquercitrin and quercitrin were found in all assessed samples of Fumaria officinalis aerial parts. [less ▲]

Bryonia alba L. is a climbing species, spontaneous in the Romanian flora, which can be found throughout the whole country [1]. It is known for its cytotoxic, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory ... [more ▼]

Bryonia alba L. is a climbing species, spontaneous in the Romanian flora, which can be found throughout the whole country [1]. It is known for its cytotoxic, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-rheumatic, laxative-purgative and smooth muscle relaxant proprieties, being used both in traditional medicine and in homeopathy [2]. The main objective of this study consists in the evaluation of the flavonoid profile of this species. The vegetal material was harvested from the spontaneous flora of Cluj county (Romania). The vegetal extracts were obtained by ultrasonication, in methanol. Analysis of flavonoids was performed by a HPLC-DAD method and revealed mainly the presence of C-glycosides, of which saponarine was found as the main compound. Quantification of saponarin was also performed, using the HPLC method, on samples collected at different periods of time. Variation of the quantity of saponarine according to harvested samples was determined. Further analysis are under process in order to investigate the structure of these flavonoids and the pharmacological effects of the Bryonia alba L. plant extracts. References: 1. *** Flora Europea, vol. 2, Cambridge, Univ. Press. Cambridge London-New York Melbourne, 1979, p. 298-299 2. Demarque D, Jouanny J, Poitevin B, Saint Jean Y. Pharmacologie et matière médicale homéopathique, 3ième edition, France, CEDH, 2007. [less ▲]

Galium odoratum is a plant used in traditional medicine and to prepare beverages. This work aimed at studying the impact of plant origin and growth conditions on the metabolite content of the plant ... [more ▼]

Galium odoratum is a plant used in traditional medicine and to prepare beverages. This work aimed at studying the impact of plant origin and growth conditions on the metabolite content of the plant. Material and methods- Aerial biomass of Galium odoratum was collected from five natural populations (in situ conditions) and from controlled environment (ex situ conditions). Results- Quantitative analysis of selected phytochemicals including phenylpropranoids and iridoids showed clear differences between the plants from nature and those of controlled growth conditions as well as internal variation within the group. The metabolomic approach emphasized the decrease of the secondary metabolites pool paralleled by an increase of the carbohydrates in ex situ conditions. Conclusion- Metabolomics approaches using 1H-NMR and HPLC is worth to consider for studying the impact of climate factors on the regulation of the phytochemical profile in relation to the origin of the plant material. [less ▲]

in International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research (2015), 7

The present study evaluates the in vitro anticancer, antiplasmodial and antioxidant activity of the ethanolic crude extract from the flowers of Allium gramineum growing in Georgia and of one flavonol and ... [more ▼]

The present study evaluates the in vitro anticancer, antiplasmodial and antioxidant activity of the ethanolic crude extract from the flowers of Allium gramineum growing in Georgia and of one flavonol and two steroidal glycosides which were isolated from this plant. The flowers were extracted with ethanol and this total extract was subjected to successive bioguided fractionations to provide glycosides 1-3. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR and ESI-MS spectrometric data in comparison with the existing literature and have been identified as: isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), diosgenin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (Prosapogenin A of dioscin) (2), diosgenin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-]-β-D-glucopyranoside (Deltonine) (3). The ethanolic extract has been shown to strongly inhibit the growth of breast adenocarcinoma cell lines, with an IC50 of 4.5 ± 0.7μg/mL for MDAMB-231 and 4.8 ± 0.9μg/mL for MCF-7 cells. The cytotoxic activity was related to 2 and 3 which exhibited potent cytotoxicity, with an IC50 of ± 3μM. Concerning antiplasmodial activities, only weak activities were observed using the ethanolic extract and the two saponins. The flavonoid was almost inactive. Finally, the radical-scavenging activity of the ethanolic extract was tested in presence of ABTS·+ solution. A decrease of the absorbance intensity was observed, with an IC50 value of 22.1 ± 0.6μg/mLwhile trolox, used as Standard drug, showed a pronounced activity (IC50 = 12.7±0.5μM). The glycoside 1 showed the lowest IC50 value of 20.1 ± 0.8μM while both 2 and 3 exhibited very weak radical scavenging activity. [less ▲]

Abstract: Objective: To evaluated the antioxidant potential of several polar fractions of P. carolinensis and P. rosea as well as pure chemicals, some of them quantified in both species by HPLC. Methods ... [more ▼]

Abstract: Objective: To evaluated the antioxidant potential of several polar fractions of P. carolinensis and P. rosea as well as pure chemicals, some of them quantified in both species by HPLC. Methods: The antioxidant potential of polar fractions and pure chemicals were assayed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and oxygen radical potential methods. The phenolic content was performed by using Folin–Ciocalteu’s reagent. Specific phenolic acids and flavonoids were quantified by DAD-RP-HPLC. Results: The highest DPPH antioxidant potential expressed in mg TE/gDE were frequently measured in fractions from n-butyl alcohol i.e 2 (192.1 ± 0.3); 6 (181.0 ± 0.1) of P. carolinensis and in fraction 7 (188.1 ± 5.5) of P. rosea while for ORAC (mg TE/gDE) assay fraction 2 (543.0 ± 64.6) and 4 (501.4 ± 49.7) of P. carolinensis and 3 (401.3 ± 16.1) and 6 (401.3 ± 16.1) of P. rosea showed the best results. Some flavonoids and phenolic acids were also assayed; all of them showed highest Oxygen radical absorbance capacity values. Conclusion: We report the antioxidant potential of polar fractions, as well as of some pure phenolics responsible of the antioxidant potential. Some phenolics were identified and quantified for the first time in both species. Apparently, caffeoylquinic acid derivatives contribute more significant to the total antioxidant potential of the extracts. [less ▲]

in Journal of Materials and Environmental Science (2014), 5(5), 1368-1375

Tetraclinis articulata (Cupressaceae), a traditional Moroccan herbal drug is used in oriental Morocco to treat diabetes and arterial hypertension. In a previous study we showed that the crude aqueous ... [more ▼]

Tetraclinis articulata (Cupressaceae), a traditional Moroccan herbal drug is used in oriental Morocco to treat diabetes and arterial hypertension. In a previous study we showed that the crude aqueous extract of T. articulata induces endotheliumdependent relaxation ... [less ▲]

Many spices are often added to foods as additives to enhance organoleptic qualities, such as flavor, aroma and color. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) family of Lamiaceae is widely used in cooking for ... [more ▼]

Glaucium flavum is used in Algerian folk medicine to remove warts (benign tumors). Its local appellations are Cheqiq el-asfar and Qarn el-djedyane. We have recently reported the anti-tumoral activity of ... [more ▼]

Glaucium flavum is used in Algerian folk medicine to remove warts (benign tumors). Its local appellations are Cheqiq el-asfar and Qarn el-djedyane. We have recently reported the anti-tumoral activity of Glaucium flavum root alkaloid extract against human cancer cells, in vitro and in vivo. The principal identified alkaloid in the extract was protopine. This study aims to determine which component(s) of Glaucium flavum root extract might possess potent antitumor activity on human cancer cells. Quantitative estimation of Glaucium flavum alkaloids was realized by HPLC-DAD. Glaucium flavum effect on human normal and cancer cell viability was determined using WST-1 assay. Quantification of alkaloids in Glaucium flavum revealed that the dried root part contained 0.84% of protopine and 0.07% of bocconoline (w/w), while the dried aerial part contained only 0.08% of protopine, glaucine as the main alkaloid, and no bocconoline. In vitro evaluation of the growth inhibitory activity on breast cancer and normal cells demonstrated that purified protopine did not reproduce the full cytotoxic activity of the alkaloid root extract on cancer cell lines. On the other hand, bocconoline inhibited strongly the viability of cancer cells with an IC50 of 7.8 µM and only a low cytotoxic effect was observed against normal human cells. Our results showed for the first time that protopine is the major root alkaloid of Glaucium flavum. Finally, we are the first to demonstrate a specific anticancer effect of Glaucium flavum root extract against breast cancer cells, which can be attributed, at least in part, to bocconoline. [less ▲]

Four Fumaria species (F. vaillantii Loisel, F. parviflora Lam., F. rostellata Knaf and F. jankae Hausskn.) were analysed in order to determine the presence of the isoquinoline alkaloids allocryptopine ... [more ▼]

Four Fumaria species (F. vaillantii Loisel, F. parviflora Lam., F. rostellata Knaf and F. jankae Hausskn.) were analysed in order to determine the presence of the isoquinoline alkaloids allocryptopine, chelidonine, protopine, bicuculline, sanguinarine, cheleritrine, stylopine, and hydrastine through an HPLC-DAD method. Protopine and sanguinarine were present in all extracts. Bicuculline and stylopine were found in F. vaillantii and F. parviflora, whilst chelidonine was identified only in F. vaillantii and hydrastine in F. jankae, so they represent potential taxonomic markers that differentiate the four plants. The richest species in isoquinoline alkaloids was F. parviflora. Our study showed significant differences between the four Fumaria species, both qualitative and quantitative. [less ▲]

According to World Health Organisation, 80% of the African populations use Improved Traditional Medicines (ITM) to threat several diseases. Even if some of these ITM are nowadays registered with local ... [more ▼]

According to World Health Organisation, 80% of the African populations use Improved Traditional Medicines (ITM) to threat several diseases. Even if some of these ITM are nowadays registered with local health authorities, the knowledge of their qualitative and quantitative composition still remains a challenge for ensuring health security of populations. In this context, an analytical method using liquid chromatography technique with UV detection was developed to allow the dosage of a tracer (major compound) in an ITM (syrup containing extract plants) registered in D.R. Congo by the “Centre de Recherche en Médecine Traditionnelle Améliorée” and marketed for use against malaria. For that purpose, a simple and rapid experimental plan considering a Plackett-Burman design was applied by testing simultaneously two significant factors, temperature of analytical column (T°) and gradient time (TG) for eluting acetonitrile (ACN) from 5% to 95%, while focusing on the separation of the tracer and an adjacent unknown compound (critical peak pairs). Suitable separation (resolution of 1.5) was obtained between these latter with T° of 15°C and TG of 60 min (20% to 65% of ACN). Prior to routine use, the analytical method was validated following the total error strategy described by the SFSTP guidelines and according to the ISO norm 17025:2005. Specificity/selectivity of the method was demonstrated by the absence of interference at the retention time of the major compound comparing to the syrup matrix. Very interesting results were observed for trueness (relative biases below 0.9%), for precision (RSD mostly below 2.2% for repeatability and time-different intermediate precision), for accuracy (beta tolerance intervals below 10% of the acceptance limits) and linearity. Finally, the method was applied to quantify the major compound in several batches of syrups ITM as well as for stability studies. [less ▲]

The content of isoorientin in passion fruit rinds ( Passiflora edulis fo. flavicarpa O.Degener) was determined by HPTLC with densitometric analysis. The results revealed a higher amount of isoorientin in ... [more ▼]

The content of isoorientin in passion fruit rinds ( Passiflora edulis fo. flavicarpa O.Degener) was determined by HPTLC with densitometric analysis. The results revealed a higher amount of isoorientin in healthy rinds of Passiflora than in rinds with typical symptoms of PWV ( Passion fruit woodliness virus). the HPTLC data ,allied to assays of radical scavenging activity, suggest the potential of P. edulis rinds as a natural source of flavonoids or as a possible functional food. [less ▲]

The quality assessment and control of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) nowadays receives a great deal of attention worldwide and particularly in Europe with its increasing local use. POLYGONUM ... [more ▼]

The quality assessment and control of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) nowadays receives a great deal of attention worldwide and particularly in Europe with its increasing local use. POLYGONUM CUSPIDATUM Siebold & Zucc. and POLYGONUM MULTIFLORUM Thunb. are two members of the Polygonaceae family, which are widely used as Chinese medicinal plants. The aim of this study was to achieve an overview of the quality of P. CUSPIDATUM and P. MULTIFLORUM samples available on the Chinese market and to identify important metabolites for their discrimination, using (1)H NMR-based metabolomics. (1)H NMR and multivariate analysis techniques were applied to almost 60 plant samples collected in different places in China. Using (1)H NMR metabolomics, it was possible, without previous evaporation or separation steps, to obtain metabolic fingerprints to distinguish between the species. The important metabolites for discrimination were stilbene derivatives. Finally, a clear distinction between the two species was possible and the discriminant metabolites were identified. [less ▲]